FAR EAST ASIA FORUM REMARKS BY GENERAL LEON J. LAPORTE WESTIN CHOSUN HOTEL
US Forces Korea Release
Release Date: 9/04/2003
It is indeed my honor to be the inaugural speaker at "the first far east forum".
I truly appreciate this opportunity to address some of the republic of Korea's most distinguished and influential citizens.
Today, I want to talk to you about one of the greatest alliances in history, the Republic of Korea-United States alliance. The accomplishments of the ROK-U.S. alliance over its five-decade history have been incontestable - deterrence has been successful.
This deterrence has resulted in unprecedented stability on the peninsula and security throughout the entire region. Deterrence, and the resulting peace, have been and remain the cornerstone of this growing democracy and the incredible economic development that has made the Republic of Korea the international power it is today. It is not just our military might that makes us one of the greatest alliances in history, but it is all that we do to come together as one community.
As we all know, freedom and democracy have not come lightly. They have been earned through trial, perseverance, and conviction.
As a direct result of our truly remarkable ROK-U.S. alliance, deterrence, and all the benefits that come with maintaining peace and stability, remains the order of the day.
This particular alliance is a true partnership. It is not just a one-sided union, and our two great nations remain steadfastly committed to each other.
Therefore, I would like to take a moment and thank the Republic of Korea and its people for its continued steadfast support to United States forces Korea and the U.S.-led global war on terrorism.
The diplomatic, financial, and military support that your nation provided to operations enduring and Iraqi freedom highlight the Republic of Korea¡¯s active participation in international efforts towards peace.
By demonstrating its leadership in the global community, the Republic of Korea demonstrated that it is a true partner in the effort to ensure that other nations' citizens benefit from the peace and stability that foster economic opportunities for all.
In my nearly year and a half in command, we have been through much together and personally, I have seen some genuinely remarkable events.
I have witnessed the world cup (an indescribable demonstration of national unity), the Asian games, and this great nation¡¯s fourth consecutive peaceful transfer of executive power during last year¡¯s general election. It is awe inspiring to see the democratic tradition you have built in the Republic of Korea.
Of course, I have seen the ROK military perform at its highest and witnessed first hand what a completely capable and professional organization it is. The ROK military is a well-equipped, well-trained, well-led and highly motivated force.
As an example, the ROK navy¡¯s heroic actions in the west sea last June clearly demonstrate the military¡¯s resolve and unwavering commitment to deterring northern aggression as part of the combined team. Just recently, we completed our 29th annual Ulchi focus lens exercise where all our forces performed magnificently.
Sadly, we have endured times of tragedy and heartbreak. But, like any good partnership, any real family, we have grown closer together through these shared experiences.
As I stated earlier, our alliance is not just one-sided, nor is it simply a military connection. Through many exceptional outreach initiatives and a host of reciprocal organizations that the Korean community sponsors, we continue to grow our relationship and expand our mutual appreciation for each other's culture.
As we like to say in English, we are engaged in a "mutual admiration society." The evidence for this is all around us. Our two nations are bonded together in a special relationship that few other countries have ever experienced, nor perhaps, could they ever understand. The obvious result of this is an expansion of our collective horizons and the opportunity to enjoy the richness of each other¡¯s culture.
With every passing year our commitment to each other continues to grow. The impetus for our special relationship was, of course, born from our collective desire to preserve freedom and liberty, but it has now become an even more personal dedication to protect our unique yet shared ways of life as we continue to develop an ever-larger appreciation for our respective cultures.
As for USFK, one of the most successful ways we foster this appreciation is through our good neighbor program. This program is one where we try to reciprocate what you, our gracious hosts, so often do. We try to introduce Americans to Korean culture and society and take a little bit of the pain of family separation away from our service members.
But the good neighbor program is more than that. It is USFK's opportunity to engage the ROK community, government, media, business, universities, schools, and military to mature and strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance.
Through this program we undertake initiatives such as adopting schools and orphanages, conducting media tours, educator outreach programs, and establishing advisory as well as friendship groups. To date, the good neighbor program has been extremely successful and very well-received. There is even a Hangul website with more information at .
I would like to now show you a brief video on the good neighbor program that will give you an idea of some of the specifics regarding this outstanding project.
As you can see, we in the USFK family are enthusiastically committed to the ROK-U.S. alliance and doing whatever it takes to strengthen our team. This is truly a labor of love for us. Most heart-warming, but in no way surprising, is how the Korean community has embraced this initiative.
Because of combined efforts like this, our relationship continues to grow into a deeper familial bond characterized by mutual trust and respect. Through all the trials and tribulations, the joys and happiness, the misfortunes as well as misunderstandings, our close kinship and our great alliance endures.
Together, as we have for the last 50 years, we remain - above all else - committed to our mission to deter aggression on the peninsula, and execute our significant part in maintaining regional peace and stability.
When I took command last year in May, I established five priorities.
- Enhance readiness and training
- Strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance
- Transform the combined forces command
- Make Korea an assignment of choice for U.S. service members
- Ensure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the northeast Asia region
I am happy to be able to report to you today that we are making tremendous progress on all five counts.
I want to take a moment this morning to highlight how the U.S. will continue to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring peace and stability on the Korean peninsula by enhancing and strengthening the capabilities of the combined forces command.
I believe if our combined forces are faster, more lethal, and more precise, we will increase our readiness posture and our combined military deterrence.
Accordingly, the United States is investing substantial resources in enhancements to the USFK contingent of our great alliance in order to guarantee the security of the Republic of Korea.
These enhancements will help transform the alliance and will ensure our combined forces make use of the latest technology and equipment. These enhancements will help to deter North Korean aggression and maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.
Coupled with the Republic of Korea¡¯s initiatives to improve its own military capabilities, these enhancements will undoubtedly strengthen the deterrence posture of our combined team.
This year we celebrated a monumental event, the 50th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance and this summer, we commemorated the signing of the armistice. Through the generous contribution of the federation of Korean industries and many other wonderful Korean interests working closely with the united services organization, we were able to have a truly special ceremony.
This summer from twenty-one separate nations, we were able to bring to the Republic of Korea a large number of heroic men and women, who, in 1950 rallied under the cause of freedom and liberty and halted the attempted communist takeover of this great nation.
This summer what these heroes saw in the land of the morning calm astounded them. For all the prosperity and affluence, the Republic of Korea barely resembled the war-torn nation that it was just fifty years before.
The sacrifices from these selfless and dedicated warriors and those like them afforded the Republic of Korea an opportunity to develop and flourish in an era of unprecedented peace and stability.
And develop and flourish you did. The Republic of Korea today is a successful democratic and modern nation. You are a global power, a true partner, and champion of the shared values of freedom and liberty, peace and prosperity. One only has to look north to understand what the alternative outcome could have been.
As one might expect, bringing Korean War heroes back to the land of the morning calm was a bittersweet experience. The harder part was remembering those who paid the ultimate price to help make this nation what it is today. The easier part was watching the veterans who had not returned to the country since the war wander around in amazement at all that the Korean people have built for themselves.
This is not hard to understand, of course. After the war, the Republic of Korea was a war-torn nation. Even in the early 1960s, it was still a poverty-stricken nation. And now, only four decades later, it has transformed into the 13th largest economy in the world.
Economically, the Republic of Korea is now so strong, it produces a healthy portion of the world¡¯s ships, automobiles, electronics, and many other goods.
Plus, as we have already pointed out, last year the world witnessed the fourth consecutive democratic transfer of power. Spanning over fifteen years, the Republic of Korea has proven that democracy has become a time honored tradition in this nation.
In this context therefore, it is no surprise to see the veterans overwhelmed by what they saw. Through all of the Republic of Korea's incredible progress and unbelievable achievements, our alliance, born on the battlefields across this peninsula, has continued to remain strong and flexible. It is a one-of-a-kind partnership that is a true deterrent to any renewed aggression.
In fact, one veteran had this to say regarding his visit to the Republic of Korea and his image of our combined team.
"my most memorable impression of the trip was the warmness I felt that permeated the camaraderie of all the Korean veterans. It was not a measure of what one did in the war, nor a reflection on rank or position or nationality, rather, it was the fact that we were, and remain, comrades-in-arms from so many different nations. I felt this way when I met a four-star general from Thailand, and of course, when I met general LaPorte and others who represent the present combined team. We were all together as comrades-in-arms. There was respect for each other and great warmness. It was also a magnificent feeling knowing that there was at least one country and its people who appreciate the sacrifices of the veterans who fought on behalf of freedom and liberty on the Korean peninsula. And what a remarkable job the people of South Korea have done building a great nation."
I promise to continue to enhance our united states forces Korea and combined forces command to live up to this hero's impression and expectation of our great team and to make this model alliance even better.
The words of U.S. undersecretary of defense Paul Wolfowitz best describe our sentiment; "no one should doubt the united states¡¯ fundamental commitment to the security of the Republic of Korea. America has stood with you for more than 50 years. American lives are still on the line alongside yours and will remain committed for another fifty years if required."
Indeed, standing shoulder-to-shoulder we have celebrated 50 years of peace. We the U.S. are as committed to the best interests of the Republic of Korea as you are to ours.
We are teammates, partners, and family. The Korean people have always been appreciative of U.S. efforts on their behalf, and the USFK family is indebted to the Korean people for their unwavering support and overwhelming hospitality.
The Republic of Korea and the United States have shared common values, common interests, common goals, and a common defense. Our commitment to that defense is linked to common truths that we believe to be self-evident and hold dear.
Whenever anyone asks me about the commitment and the bond between our great nations, I am reminded of an anecdote from back when Park Chung-Hee was president of south Korea that noted British columnist and author Michael Breen retold in his recent book.
The story is of a returning Korean War veteran who lost his sight during the war and returned to Korea during the 1970s.
On this particular visit the blind veteran, accompanied by his wife and young son along with other veterans, met Park Chung-Hee. President Park went down the line, shaking hands with the veterans, and, when he reached the blind man, he shook his hand warmly and then his wife's. When he took their son¡¯s hand, he leaned over and said to him, "I have heard about your father. He lost his eyes so that our country could be free."
Thirty years later, and clearly evident in the words of another returning Korean War veteran, I see no lessening of this combined resolve and no weakening of our commitment to each other.
There is no doubt - ours is an alliance that has lasted for over five decades and it will continue to reflect a friendship and partnership of which our grandsons and daughters will be proud to say - KATCHI KAPSHIDA!
KAM SA HAM NEE DA
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